Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Astronomical Twilight-16.1° (−12° to −18°)
19:37:39
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 5m of true darkness · 13h 50m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:54
Civil Dusk18:28
Nautical19:07
Full Dark19:46
Nadir00:49
Dark Ends05:51
Nautical06:30
Civil Dawn07:09
Sunrise07:43
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE25.6°
DISTANCE380,058 km
Moonrise16:36
Moonset05:26
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX40% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
68/100
Fine observing conditions. Open star clusters and nebulae will exhibit crisp structure.
CLOUD COVER15%
HUMIDITY50%
VISIBILITY18 km
DEW POINT10.8°C
| PLANET | STATUS | MAGNITUDE | ALTITUDE | AZIMUTH | CONSTELLATION | RISE | TRANSIT | SET | EQUIPMENT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venus♀ | Below Horizon | -4.3 | -22.2° | 269° | Libra | 08:18 | 12:43 | 17:08 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -22.0° | 344° | Leo | 01:18 | 08:40 | 15:59 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 19.5° | 114° | Pisces | 17:25 | 23:35 | 05:44 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -19.6° | 353° | Cancer | 00:23 | 08:05 | 15:45 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -11.5° | 251° | Libra | 09:59 | 14:07 | 18:14 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 3.6° | 60° | Taurus | 19:06 | 03:06 | 11:10 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 22.0° | 122° | Pisces | 17:04 | 23:05 | 05:06 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:36
BEST TIME22:52S · 40° high
SETS05:26
Reaches about 40° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:18
BEST TIME08:40S · 53° high
SETS15:59
Reaches about 53° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:25
BEST TIME23:35S · 40° high
SETS05:44
Reaches about 40° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Good height
RISES08:18
BEST TIME12:43S · 20° high
SETS17:08
Reaches about 20° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:23
BEST TIME08:05S · 56° high
SETS15:45
Reaches about 56° above the horizon at its highest point.Distinctive crimson hue; polar ice cap discernible near opposition.
M31 / NGC 224 · Andromeda
Spiral Galaxy (2.5M ly)Andromeda Galaxy
Our galactic neighbor; visible as a ghostly oval smudge with dense radiant stellar core.
M45 · Taurus
Open Star ClusterThe Pleiades (Seven Sisters)
Breathtaking blue diamond cluster enshrouded in delicate interstellar reflection nebulosity.
M42 / NGC 1976 · Orion
Diffuse Emission NebulaGreat Orion Nebula
Star nursery harboring the brilliant Trapezium cluster with sprawling bat-wing filaments.
NGC 869 & NGC 884 · Perseus
Twin Open ClustersThe Double Cluster
Pair of spectacular shimmering jewel-boxes bursting with ruby supergiant stars.
M13 / NGC 6205 · Hercules
Globular Cluster (300k stars)Great Globular Cluster in Hercules
Massive beehive of ancient stars packed tightly together into a blazing central ball.
M57 / NGC 6720 · Lyra
Planetary NebulaThe Ring Nebula
Delicate glowing smoke-ring left behind by a dying star 2,500 light-years away.
